Switch-rail.



J. B. STRONG.

SWITCH BAIL.

APPLIUATION FILED JUNE 3, 1907;

Patented Mar, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Afro Nfl/sA J. B. STRONG,

SWITCH RAIL,

Y I l `PPLITION FILED JUNE 3, 1907. 951 ,205. i Patented Mar. 8, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

www @www l Z Y A consona SWITCH-RAIL sarees.

u Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed June 3, 1907.

Serial No. 376,924.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that STRONG, a citizen oi' the United States, residing at Hillbnrn, in the county of Rockland, in the State of New York, have invented certain neiY and useful Improvenients in Switch-Rails, of which the following is a specification,rreference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part f hereof.

It is well known that switch rails break down and wear out at'the point because of the excessive side wear to which the point portion is subjected in use, and that the entire switch rail inust be discarded when the point liasi'ailed although the remaining poi'- tions of the switch rail are only slightly worn.

The main objectof this invention is to .provide a switch rail with a thrust plate which, while being non-load bearing, will take the side wear and which will preserve the point of the switchvrail against deterioration and undue wear, so that the point portion will last approximately as long as the balance of the switch rail.

rllie invention. consists in the new and novel features .of construction and coinbinations of parts hereinafter claimed.

Figure l is a plan View of a. portion of a railroad track provided with my improved switch rail. Fig. 2 1s a plan view ot a portion of the track showing a switclirail in.

its closed position on a larger scale than that shown in Fig. l. Figs. 3, el, 5, 6 and Z represent cross sections on the lilies 3 3, 1**4, 5 5, 6*(5 and Fig.v 2. Fig. 8 represents a cross sectioncorresponding to F ig. 4 of a modified form of switch rail embodyin my invention. Fig. 9 represents a side e evation of another forni of reinforcing bar.

The track or stock rails o are of the usual section. The switch rails b have their bases beveled to seat upon the stock rails, and the heads c are out away for a short distance from the forward or pointends leaving the webs d of the desired height. The forward or point portions of the switch bent outward away from the adjacent stock rails so that, when the switch rails are in -their closed positions said forward portions will lie practically parallel to and at a I, JAMES BooRiiAN' tough suitable distance frein the stock rail. If desired the ends of the switch rails may be thickened somewhat to provide more stiffness and strength to the switch points.V

` Secured to the web of each switch rail is a side bearing thrust plate e preferably formed of manganese steel or seine hard or inetal possessing substantial wearing qu. `ties.. Said thrust plate projects upward at the place where switch rail is cut away to a point below the top of the head of the adjacent stock or track rail so 'that the load will not be carried by the thrust plate. The top f of the thrust plate gradually tapers toward the point end of the switch rail and forms a side wearing edge that rests against the y stock rail when the switch is closed. The thrust plate is also provided with an extension o which engages between the head and the base of the switch rail and is reierably provided with a shoulder f w ich seats upon the web of the switch rail. If desircdthis shoulder inay be caused to overlap the edge of the switch rail as at f2 to assist in holding the thrust plate in place.

The thrust plate is secured to the switch rail in any suitable manner as by bolts/1 l a d set orth and l passing through bolt holes provided therefor Y l and Referring to the accompanying drawings above may rest upon the base of the switch rail, or,

as shown in Fig. 8, it may be supported by 7-7 respectively of l the shoulder f and the bolts without being l in contact with the base of the switch rail.

Instead of the usual bolt holes, however, the thrust plate may be provided with slots z' to receive the bolts, in which case the flanges la. are arranged vertically alongsidesaid slots as shown in Fig. 9. One or more-additional reinforcing strips y' may be provided for further security if desired.'

By this construction the load is borne by the stock rail since the thrust plate does' not project at any point throughout its entire rails are length to the level of the top of the stock Conso uently the thrust plate is not` a base and may be made relaprovided ywit tivelythin and with much less metal than is required for a removable point which is 11o l Patenten Mar. s, icio."-

the head of the eamo@ usually provided with a base portion adapted to rest upon the adjacent stock rail and which is intended and adapted to bear the load. Furthermore, in this construction the point portion is bent away from the stockI rail, thus admitting more metal and lateral stiffness to remain in the base of the switch rail than in the ordinary construction.

l claim as my invention: y

l. ln a railway switch, the combination ot' a switch rail having kits point portion bent away from the adjacent stockv rail to allow a vertical space between the head of said Stock rail and the web of said switch rail, and a thrust plate secured to said switch rail and occupying said vertical space, said thrust plate not extending above the top of the stock rail throughout its entire length.

2. In a railway switch, the combination o1 a switch ,rail having its point portion bent away from the adjacent stock rail and the web of said bent ortionthiclrened, and a thrust plate secure to said switch rail.

3. ln a railway switch, the combination with a stoel: rail, of a switch rail having the head removed from the point portion thereof and a eide bearing' thrust p ate secured. to the stock rail side' of the switch railand projecting` above the web of the point portion vof the switch rail, said thrust plate bein below 'the top of the head of the stock rai thi-ou hout its entire length.

d. n a. railwa switch, the combination with'a switch ra' of a thrust plate securedthereto, bolts for holding the thrust plate, to

the switch rail and projections torn'led in- 5. ln a railway switch, the combination i with. a switch rail having the head removed from the point portion thereof, of a thrust plate extending above the web of the 'switchv rail to take the sido thrust onli7 and having slots provided in the side thereof, and means engaging in the slots to Secure Said thrust plate to the switch rail.

6. In a railway Vswitch, the combination with a switch rail, ot' a thrust plate forming the wearing edge of the switch rail and supported upon the web of the switch rail above the base of Said switch rail, substantially as described.

7. ln a railway switch, the combination with a stock rail, of a Switchy rail having the head removed from the point portion 'thereof and said point portion bent away from the stock rail, and a side bearing thrust plate projecting above the web ofthe switch rail and provided with an. extension seating upon said web, said thrust plate havf ing its upper edge arranged' below the top ot the head of the 'Stock rail throughout its entire length.

This Speciiioation signed and witnessed this 27th day ot' May, A. D., 1907.

I JAMES BUORMAN STRONG.

Signed in the presence ofn HELEN L. Pinnen, Amoroso L. SHEA.

hdi.- 

